Bankable flexible sled.



M. WALKER.

BANKABLE FLEXIBLE SLED.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR, 2, 1910.

1,083,713. Patented Jan.6,1914.

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WITNESSES. l/VI/ENTOR Mawv'c'e Walker,

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M. WALKER.

BANKABLE FLEXIBLE SLED.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 2, 1910. V

Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

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WITNESSES:

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MAURICE WALKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BANKABLE FLEXIBLE SLED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 6, 1914.

Application filed March 2, 1910. Serial No. 546,882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAURICE WALKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bankable Flexible Sleds, set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to dirigible sleds, particularly to those used for coasting.

An object of the invention is to provide for the positive steering of the sled wlthout materially retarding its progress and also to provide artificial banking for the sled to facilitate the taking of sharp turns. These general objects have also been achieved by means of the sled constructions illustrated and described in my Patent 940,221, November 16th, 1909 and in my copending application, Serial No. 488,514, filed April 7th, 1909.

The particular subject matter of this application is a new combination of a plurality of means and provisions to efiect ready dirigibility in a sled construction 1n an improved manner.

In the embodiment of this invention, dirlgibility is accomplished by the combined effect of flexing a pair of runners and simultaneously depressing a runner member corresponding in posit-ion to the outside of the turn to be taken.

Further objects of this invention are to improve in general the structure and make up of sleds of this type and to provide for the ready manipulation of the movable parts at the will of the coaster.

The above will be pointed out more fully in the accompanying claims and will be clear fro-m the following specification and drawings which form part of this applicaand in Which,-

Figure 1 is a plan view of an illustrative embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view with parts broken away and showing the sleds condition when a turn is to be made; Fig. 3 is a vertical middle section of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail section like Fig. 3, showing the depressible runner-member and its operating lever mechanism; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the sled construction; Fig. 6 is a section through line VIVI of Fig. 4; and Fi 7 is a section drawn to a reduced scale thi ough line VII-VII of Fig. 4.

In the embodiment illustrated, 1 and 2 indicate a pair of parallel runners constructed of any desired resilient material such as steel and of such a cross section that they may be rigid vertically, flexible laterally, and tend to regain their normal straight condition when flexed. To this end it is preferred that the cross section of each runner be angular such as inverted T shape as illustrated, the vertical web 3 of each runner being of sufficient extent to give the required vertical stiffness and the enlarged flange or tread 4 being sufficiently narrow to permit lateral flexing. In this embodiment of the invention the body of the sled is regarded as what might also be termed the seat and may comprise wooden strips 5, 6 and 7 and the cross clea-t 8. This body is supported by the runner frame.

The runner frame is shown comprising the runners 1 and 2; the flexible resilient side string pieces 9 and 10; the cross benches 11, 12 and 13; the cross bars 14 and 15; and the standards 16.

The standards 16 may be formed in any approved manner as of stamped sheet metal and be attached as by riveting at their feet to the webs 3 of the runners 1 and 2 and at their tops in a similar manner to the benches such as 11 and 13, it being understood that any suitable number of standards according to the length of the sled should be provided. The up-turned bent-over forward end of the web 3 of runner 1 is secured, as by a bolt or rivet shown, to the forward end of the corresponding string piece 9; while the Web 3 of the runner 2 is secured in a similar manner to the forward end of the opposite string piece 10. The benches 11, 12 and 13 are fixed in any suitable manner to the string pieces 9 and 10 while the cross bars 14 and 15 are pivoted at their ends as by means of bolts or rivets to the side string pieces. It is preferred that the attachment of the body to the runner frame be limited to the rear portion thereof, suitable securing means engaging the benches 11 and 12 being indicated by the nails 17. The top surface of the bench 18 is shown provided with an antifriction strip 18 preferably in the form of a strip of brass.

Extending rearwardly for a considerable distance from the forward end of each runner, each web 3 is severed from the tread portion 4 forming the semiintegral tread portion 19. This severed tread-portion is to be considered as an illustrative embodiment of a construction providing the depressible tread-portion 19. The upturned end of each depressible tread-portion 19 slides in a clip 20 shown riveted to the Web 3. Each depressible treadpo-rtion is also provided with a pair of guide flanges 21 riveted thereto and straddling the detached web 3 and serving also as guides for the depressible tread-portion 19.

Toggle arms 22 and 23 are shown pivoted respectively to the overlying string piece by means of the bracket and bolt 24 and to the clips 21 by means of the bolt 25. The upward extension 26 of the toggle arm 23 is pivoted at its end to the push link 27 which in turn is pivoted to the outer end of the lever 28 by pin 29, the lever 28 being pivoted at the inner end to the cross bar 14 by the pin 30. The mid-portion of the lever 28 is provided with a pin 31 working in the slot 32 of the link 33 which is pivoted at its forward end to one arm of the steering lever 34. The steering lever 34 is pivoted at its center by the pin 35 to the forward end of the sled body as to the forward end of the slat 6. Extending forwardly at right angles to the lever 34 and fixed thereto as by rivets 36 is an extension shown in the form of two arms 37 which are pivoted to the middle of the forward cross bar 15 by means of the pin 38, sufficient play for the pin 38 may be provided by the slots 39.

Figs. 2 and 4 show the positions assumec by the various parts of the sled when the mechanism is operated to steer to the left. A suitable manipulation of the steering lever 34, either by the feet or the hands, causes the arms 37 to move to the left while the reacting force on the forward part of the body is to the right. In consequence the en tire runner frame is flexed to the left as indicated in Fig. 2, causing the tread of each runner 1 and 2 to assume-a left handed curvature. This same operation of the steering lever 34 draws the right hand link 33 forward, which draws the right hand lever 28 forward; thrusts forward the connecting link 27 and through the medium of; the arm 26 flattens or extends the toggle 22, 23 to force down the depressible runner-portion 19 for the right hand runner 2. The depres In fact a very sharpturn may safely be made with a sled of this character. In fact, it has been found that steering is greatly facilitated by the depression of a runner portion 19 against the road bed sufliciently farto cause a practical forward extension in 'K the length of runner engagement with the road bed without causing a tilting of the sled, which would be effected by a further depression of this runner portion 19. As

soon as pressure is removed fromthe right hand end of the steering bar 34 the resilience of the runner frame causes it to assume its normal straight condition and the weight of the sled causes the depressible runner por tion 19 to assume its normal position against the edge of the web 3. To steer the sled to the right the reverse ofthese operations takes place, it being understood that the lever and toggle mechanism for the left hand runner 1 is operated to depress the depressible runner portion 19 for this left hand runner 1 while the slot 32 in the righthand link 33 provides suflicient play for pin 31 so that no reverse operation of the right hand toggle mechanism is caused.

It is to be understood that the embodiment of the invention shown and described is merely illustrative of a preferred embodiment, while the true scope of the invention is pointed out more clearly in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed and what is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is 1. A sled having laterally and downwardly flexing runners, and means for so flexing said runners.

2. In a sled, a laterally-flexing runner frame in combination with a sled-body secured to said runner-frame near the rear of the same, said runner frame having downwardly movable runner portions.

3. In a sled, a laterally-flexing runner frame in combination'with a sled-body secured to said runner-frame near the rear of the same, said runner frame having downwardly flexible runner portions.

4. In asled, a pair of laterally flexible. and resilient runners vertically rigid for part of their length, and each having an integral downwardly flexible forward tread portion.

5. In a dirigible sled, a pair of laterallyflexible runners, each having a depressible portion; and means for flexing said runners to the left or right and for simultaneously depressing the right or left said depressible portion, all for the purpose of steering and banking.

6. In a dirigible sled, a runner comprising a web portion and a tread portion and a vertically flexible upwardly curved tread portion at the front, said entire runner being laterally flexible throughout the maximum portion of its length; and means for limiting the upward vertical movement of the said vertically flexible tread portion at the front.

7. In a runner construction, a web; an underlying severed tread portion depressible relatively to said web; and straddling guides secured to said tread portion and slidably engaging said web.

8. In a runner construction, a web; an underlying severed tread portion depressible relatively to said web; straddling guides secured to said tread and slidably engaging said web; and lever mechanism pivoted to the upper end of said guides and operative to depress said tread portion.

9. In a sled a laterally flexing runner frame comprising a plurality of benches and a pair of runners laterally flexible through out their extent and having each a flexible depressible portion; a steering lever pivoted centrally to the sled body and having a rigid forward extension operatively connected to the forward portion of said frame whereby the forward portion of the body and the frame may be forced relatively in opposite lateral directions to flex the runner frame; and lever mechanism operatively connecting each said depressible portion of each runner with said steering lever and operative to depress said portion simultaneously with the flexing of the runner frame.

10. In a sled, a pair of flexible runners upwardly turned at their forward ends; means for laterally flexing the said runners and for simultaneously lengthening the tread of the runner on the outside of the turn to be taken by the sled.

11. In a sled, a pair of runners, and means for lengthening the tread of said runners during the progress of the sled.

12. In a sled, a pair of runners, and means for selectively lengthening the tread of said runners during the progress of the sled.

18. In a sled, a runner comprising a vertically rigid portion continuous from end to end of the runner and a tread portion, the said tread portion being fixed to said rigid portion at one end and slidably engaging said rigid portion at its other end.

14. In a sled, a runner comprising a vertically rigid portion and a flexible tread portion; said tread portion being fixed to said rigid portion at one end and having means fixed to its opposite end straddling said rigid portion and movable thereon; and means engaging intermediate the length of said tread portion adapted to flex said tread portion for lengthening the engaging surface of said tread portion.

15. In a sled, a runner comprising a vertically rigid portion and a flexible tread portion, said tread portion having one of its ends fixed; and means for flexing said tread portion downwardly to elevate the corresponding side of the sled and tilt the sled toward the other side.

16. A sled runner comprising a parti-integral member having relatively movable contiguous end portions.

17. A sled runner comprising a parti-integral member having relatively movable contiguous end portions; and means fixed to one end portion slidably engaging the other contiguous end portion.

18. A sled runner comprising a parti-integral member having relatively movable contiguous end portions; and means fixed to one end portion slidably engaging the other contiguous end portion, one of said end portions being flexible.

19. A sled runner comprising a parti-integral member having relatively movable contiguous end portions; and means fixed to one end portion slidably engaging the other contiguous end portion, one of said end portions being flexible, and the other of said end portions serving to limit the flexing of said flexible portion in one direction.

20. A sled runner comprising a parti-integral member having relatively movable contiguous end portions; and means fixed to one end portion slidably engaging the other contiguous end portion, one of said end portions being flexible; and guiding means operative between said end portions for maintaining said end portions in alinement.

21. A sled runner comprising a parti-integral member having relatively movable contiguous end portions; and means fixed to one end portion slidably engaging the other contiguous end portion, one of said end port-ions being flexible; and guiding means fixed to said flexible portion and engaging the contiguous other end portion for main taining said end portions in alinement.

22. A sled runner comprising a parti-integral T-section having a continuous web portion and an independently flexible flange portion.

23. A sled runner comprising a parti-integral member having an independently flexible tread portion.

24. A sled runner comprising a laterally flexible portion and an independently vertically flexible portion.

25. A sled runner comprising a parti-integral T-section having a laterally flexible web portion and an independently vertically flexible flange portion.

In witness whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MAURICE WALKER.

Witnesses LUELLA F. LITTLE, LEONARD DAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

